Shloka 1
Cyavana’s Water-Vow and the Ethics of Cohabitation (स्नेह-सम्वास-धर्मः)
अि-क्राछ सप्तचत्वारिशो< ध्याय: ब्राह्मण आदि वर्णोकी दायभाग-विधिका वर्णन युधिछिर उवाच सर्वशास्त्रविधानज्ञ राजधर्मविदुत्तम । अतीव संशयच्छेत्ता भवान् वै प्रथित: क्षितौ
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca—sarvaśāstravidhānajña rājadharmaviduttama | atīva saṁśayacchettā bhavān vai prathitaḥ kṣitau | mama hṛdaye 'paraḥ saṁśayo jātaḥ; tasya me samādhānaṁ kuru | rājan, asmin jāte saṁśaye 'haṁ nānyam kañcid pṛcchāmi ||
Yudhiṣṭhira berkata: “Wahai datukanda, engkau yang mengetahui ketetapan semua śāstra dan yang terunggul antara para arif tentang dharma raja—di bumi ini engkau masyhur sebagai pemutus segala keraguan. Namun satu lagi keraguan timbul di hatiku; selesaikanlah untukku. Wahai Raja, tentang keraguan yang timbul ini, aku tidak akan bertanya kepada sesiapa pun selain engkau.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse models dharmic inquiry: when moral and legal uncertainty arises, one should seek clarification from a truly learned and ethically authoritative teacher, especially in matters of governance and śāstric duty.
Yudhiṣṭhira respectfully addresses the grandsire (Bhīṣma) as the supreme expert in śāstra and rājadharma, praises his ability to dispel doubts, and requests the resolution of a new doubt, declaring he will consult no one else on this matter.